Best Motorcycle Gloves
What does the best mean to you?
What makes for the best motorcycle gloves? That’s a loaded question, we know. How could we at MO possibly know what the best motorcycle gloves are for you and your situation at any given moment? Well, to be honest, it’s because we’re moto-wizards. Ageless beings that hold the secrets of the universe among our homes offices. We know all, what has been and what will be. Including what’s best for you, same as your parents.
In all seriousness, there are an endless amount of variables that will influence what the best motorcycle glove is for you at any point in time. What we’ve done is highlighted a glove in each category that we’ve tested over time and deemed an exceptional option in it’s own space. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but these are some of our favorites.
Table of Contents
Alpinestars SP X Air Carbon V2 Glove
“This shorty warm weather vented glove features a chassis constructed out of a combination of perforated leather and stretchable mesh, which accounts for both the comfortable fit and the cooling breeze it flows – enough, in fact, to get quite cool during the springtime temperature drop after dark. The precurved fingers have accordion panels for padding and ease of movement, while the externally seamed protective leather layers are perforated. Although the bulk of the inner fingers is constructed of leather, mesh fabric makes a cooling appearance in the crotches where the fingers meet the hand. As with all Alpinestars performance gloves, the pinky finger gets a leather support to keep it from being bent away from the rest of the fingers in a crash. Another nice addition is the touchscreen-compatible index fingertip on both gloves.” – Evans Brasfield
MO Tested: Alpinestars SP X Air Carbon V2 Glove Review
Also noteworthy:
Racer Mickey
- comfort on par with all of the Racer gloves we’ve tested, which is to say they’re dang near perfect out of the box
- excellent protection and breathability
- Affordable
- Touchscreen compatible
- Full-grain leather construction with gauntlet style fit
- Hard sliders on the palm and knuckles for additional protection
Dainese 4 Stroke Evo
- Race gauntlet levels of protection in a short cuff glove
- Good tactile feedback
- They take a while to break-in
Racer Sprint Gloves
Racer’s newest short-cuff glove is the Racer Sprint, a well-ventilated summer glove that should offer plenty of protection to keep your digits comfortable and safe. Throughout California’s warm temperatures, I have had no issue using these gloves during press launches, shootouts, and personal rides. These gloves have been incredibly comfortable from day one and offer excellent dexterity while riding. Unfortunately, I did have a seam bust somewhat early on, but it is worth the cost (or going the DIY route) to fix them. These gloves, and the others mentioned below, walk the line between warm weather street gloves as well as adventure riding options thanks to their ventilative properties.
MO Tested: Racer Sprint Gloves
Also noteworthy:
REV’IT! Sand 3
- Excellent ventilation
- Flexible knuckle allows natural movement of the hand without binding
- The mashup of leather and textile provide a balance of breathability and protection
- Snug fit
KLIM Baja S4
- Fit is slightly larger than other gloves I’ve tried
- Leather and textile work together to provide protection and ventilation
- Soft rubber sliders are lightweight and flexible
FLY Racing Kinetic Shield Gloves
There really isn’t much variety in dirtbike gloves. They’re all pretty similar. The things we look for are fit and durability and the FLY Kinetic Shield gloves ticks both of those boxes. The Kinetic Shield gloves are on the tighter side, and the fingers seem a tad longer than other gloves I’ve tried. Still, the amount of stretch in both the fingers and across the back of the hand keeps them from being too constricting. As with most MX gloves, there is zero padding on the back of the hand. The palm is a Clarino-type fabric with a few reinforced areas which stretch all the way up the fingers and thumb. The pointer and index finger are also lined with silicone stripes to give extra grip at the levers. These are usually the first things to start peeling off, but I’ve only had a small piece come off on the left glove. I consider myself pretty picky about the way my gloves fit, both on the street and off-road, and these are my favorite pair. These gloves have lasted through rigorous off-road testing and multi-day trips and are still looking pretty good.
Alpinestars Oscar Robinson Gloves
Cruiser and cafe style gloves share a few similarities. Subtle branding, neutral tones, and leather. I used the Alpinestars Oscar Robinson on a daily basis for a long time. The black leather and vintage styling transcends genres of moto gear and certainly ticks all the boxes for cruiser and cafe style. This simple glove is made of leather with synthetic reinforcement on the palms, has padding on the knuckles and fingers, and a top side Velcro closure. Fit was spot on for me with other Euro brands, including Astars, and has a slight pre-curve for comfort at the bars.
REV’IT! Dominator GTX Gloves
The REV’IT! Dominator GTX is a high-tech glove bringing together a multitude of materials into a well thought out, protective and weatherproof design that’s comfortable day in and day out. Check out the full review for a breakdown of all the materials used. During various trips in adverse weather conditions, the Dominator GTX has kept my hands dry and warm. While I’ve managed to not test the protection aspects, I believe this glove would provide substantial protection in the event of a get off. To add to all of that, these gloves are extremely comfortable, too.
MO Tested: REV’IT! Dominator GTX Gloves Review
Also noteworthy:
Dainese Universe Gore-Tex
- The lack of thick insulation allows the rider to more easily feel the warmth from heated grips
- Also due to the lack of insulation, tactile feedback is quite good
- The elastic wrist closure gives a secure fit and allows riders to use the glove both over or under the cuff of their jackets
REV’IT! Jerez 3
The Jerez 3 is REV’IT!’s top-o-the-line race gauntlet and can be found on the hands of top racers the world over. Think big names like Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci. Protecting riders racing at those levels is no task to take lightly, and judging by the technicality of the Jerez 3, it’s clear REV’IT! has put in the research and development. Fit, protection, and performance are simply some of the best I’ve had the opportunity to test.
MO Tested: REV’IT! Jerez 3 Glove Review
Also noteworthy:
Dainese Full Metal 6
- Stretch panels and materials allow for excellent mobility
- Considerable protection is achieved through materials and sliders
- Goatskin palm gives great feedback
Alpinestars SuperTech
- Excellent fit with the exception of one oddly long middle finger
- Top-level protection derived from MotoGP
- Very comfortable once broken in
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Ryan’s time in the motorcycle industry has revolved around sales and marketing prior to landing a gig at Motorcycle.com. An avid motorcyclist, interested in all shapes, sizes, and colors of motorized two-wheeled vehicles, Ryan brings a young, passionate enthusiasm to the digital pages of MO.
More by Ryan Adams
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The ideal gloves should protect without restricting motion or numbing control feel. They should handle wear well so that you can use them for a few years without thin spots forming.
It's hard to find all that in a size that fits our very individualized hands, so we usually suffer through a compromise of some kind.
I've had these buggers for years. The old version. Wouldn't trade them for anything. https://uploads.disquscdn.c...